To be honest.
Helen was still a bit dazed, completely unsure if what she had experienced was real or an illusion.
But the feeling of being shot was very real.
Even now, recalling it, her heart involuntarily twitched.
Moreover, the bullet hole in her clothes and the bullet that fell from inside her clothes seemed to confirm one thing.
Everything she had experienced was real.
She died.
But she also didn't die.
Resurrected from Nirvana, she was initially worried about George, then learned George had something to say, so she went out to the operating room to watch Detective Mahoney's surgery. Upon returning, Helen finally had time to calm down and reflect on what had happened to her.
She remembered the place she went to after being shot.
There was a dome unlike anything on Earth, a grassland blooming with countless exotic flowers and plants unlike anything on Earth, and that incredibly majestic temple.
The most important point.
That… little girl who seemed to bear a slight resemblance to her son-in-law in her brows.
Oh, right.
That little girl also seemed to say something like "Brother"?
Helen's mind conjured Anya's image, then she reacted, staring intently at Hawke.
Hawke, seeing Helen's gaze, felt a stir in his heart and looked back at Helen.
Helen frowned.
"I… I think I saw your sister Anya, Hawke."
"What?"
George, standing nearby, was slightly stunned at the words.
Gwen's eyes also narrowed: "Mom, you said you saw Anya?"
Hawke, however, looked calmly at Helen.
The Netherworld Prison was within his Little Universe; he was privy to every rustle and stir there, so he naturally knew that Anya had indeed met Helen.
However, Helen hadn't had time to say much before entering the Phoenix Nirvana procedure.
"Yes."
"That must have been your sister Anya."
"That place must have been Heaven."
"I think I went to Heaven and saw your sister Anya. She looks very much like you in her brows; I shouldn't have been mistaken."
Helen's brows were tightly furrowed, but as she spoke, they gradually relaxed. Then she looked at George: "I died, but I'm alive again, George."
Their eyes met.
George didn't hesitate, excitedly yet carefully, he embraced Helen, then exclaimed.
"Thank God!"
"…"
George was thrilled, attributing all the credit to God.
But God Hawke was not pleased.
Hawke looked at George, who was giving credit that was clearly his to that old geezer, God, and raised an eyebrow.
"That is…"
"That's great, Hawke!"
Gwen, who had been constantly monitoring Hawke's movements, saw that Hawke was about to speak up and claim his credit. She also cheered in surprise, hugged Hawke, and then quickly whispered in Hawke's ear: "Dr.'s uniform."
Hawke, who had intended to reclaim his credit, raised an eyebrow, his gaze meeting Gwen's, who was looking up at him from his embrace.
In a flash of lightning, Hawke made a decision.
"You go."
"You…"
Gwen, hearing this, also raised an eyebrow, looking at Hawke, who was taking advantage of the situation. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Hawke's gaze sweep past her and open his mouth again. She reacted, biting her silver teeth.
"Fine!"
"Deal."
Hawke smiled brightly.
Never mind.
Let George thank God; anyway, George was thanking God, and he didn't specify which God.
God Jehovah was God.
God Hawke was also God.
Not bad.
Besides.
It was just an empty title; those were meaningless. Seeing Gwen in a Dr.'s uniform was the most meaningful thing.
Hawke thought happily to himself.
After settling with Hawke, Gwen breathed a sigh of relief, but there was still one thing left to resolve. After getting out of Hawke's embrace, she turned to look at her parents, who were also showing affection, and quickly said: "Dad, Mom is dead!"
Helen, hearing this, immediately became displeased.
She looked at her daughter Gwen, who was cursing her despite her being clearly alive. Her face darkened, and she was just about to speak when.
At this moment, George had already reacted, nodded, and looked at Helen with a serious expression.
"Yes, you are dead, Helen."
"…"
I'm dead?
When? Wait, am I really dead, and all of this is just a dream after my death?
Helen was bewildered.
But soon, George explained it to her.
Of course.
George omitted the fact that he had become a Vampire.
After all, his mind was also a bit chaotic right now, and he hadn't yet figured out how to tell Helen about this.
But one thing was certain.
If those Vampires knew Helen wasn't dead, they would definitely notice, and even if they hid, they would certainly target Helen again.
So… until those Vampires were caught, Helen had to be in a "dead state."
Helen understood.
She could also comprehend it.
It was just… Helen looked at her husband George, and then at her daughter Gwen, with an unreadable expression: "So I'm definitely dead, then?"
George and Gwen exchanged glances.
"Helen."
"Mom."
"…"
Hawke stood by silently, not getting involved. In fact, he directly altered his presence with the Reality Stone, then quietly turned, opened the door, and walked out of the ward.
He didn't want to participate in such boring matters.
This was also why Gwen didn't let him act; if Gwen had, let's just say, the Vampires of New York would have already obediently delivered the so-called Blood Apocalypse organization and its mastermind to him.
Hawke didn't know who this so-called Blood Apocalypse was.
But Vampires were definitely involved.
Since that was the case, rather than internal conflict, it was better to make things difficult for others. No matter who it was, just kill the Vampires. If he killed the right ones, everyone would be happy; if he killed the wrong ones, it was fine too, because these self-proclaimed innocent Vampires would want to find this Blood Apocalypse even more than he did.
So… why bother making Helen fake her death? Was it necessary?
Hawke didn't understand, but he could comprehend that if Gwen didn't let him act, he absolutely wouldn't.
However, he also wasn't very keen on acting.
After all, his public weakness and the only person he cared about was Gwen.
Who knew if, after he acted this time, it wouldn't make the ambitious individuals hiding behind the scenes think that they could plot against him by targeting Helen and George, or Howard and Simon?
He didn't want the secret ambitious ones to develop such a misconception.
So… unless Gwen asked, he wouldn't act.
Again, if she died, she died. Anyway, dying meant going to the Netherworld Prison, and going to the Netherworld Prison was like going home.
Just as he had told Gwen, he couldn't possibly throw Helen and George into the Netherworld Prison if they went to the Netherworld Prison.
That was impossible.
Just then.
Detective Hale also walked out of the elevator.
Hawke greeted him.
"Detective Mahoney…"
"He was rescued in time. The Doctor said it's nothing major; the bullet didn't pierce his heart."
"That's good."
"Is Sheriff Stacy awake?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll go in first."
"Okay."
Detective Hale, who had just come out of Detective Mahoney's ward, said a few words to Hawke, who was standing at the door, then pushed the door open and saw a shocking scene.
Sheriff Stacy, who had been shot three times that morning and brought to the hospital, barely clinging to life, was now standing, though his face was a bit pale, his spirits were very high.
Especially his arm, which the Doctor had diagnosed as a comminuted fracture, was now unusually flexible.
Hale was shocked.
"Hiss, Sheriff Stacy, you…"
"Hale, come in quickly, and close the door."
"…"
Hale was slightly stunned and hadn't had time to react before Gwen pulled him in.
An hour later.
Hale and a female officer with her head bowed quickly exited the hospital, got into a police car, and drove away from the hospital with sirens blaring.
Hawke and Gwen also returned to Stacy Apartment.
Gwen, who immediately flopped onto the bed, stretched: "God, I'm so tired."
Hawke, hearing this, smiled slightly: "Don't say 'God' anymore. God is our enemy now. It's not too late to call out 'God' after I've invaded Heaven."
Gwen blinked, and hearing this, she seemed to think of something. She shot up from the bed and looked at Hawke.
"When Mom went to the safe house with Hale, there were no Vampires, right?"
"No."
"That's good."
Gwen breathed a sigh of relief.
Hawk's expression was helpless. He hadn't intended to ask, but he couldn't help but shake his head, "Why make it so complicated? All you have to do is say the word, and I can rid New York City of all Vampires."
Gwen immediately shook her head.
"No!"
"Why not?"
"This is Dad's war, and besides..."
Gwen said, then looked at Hawk, "Your not interfering is also protecting Dad and Mom, as well as Howard and Simon."
After all, the idea of the Stacy family not stepping in to help, no matter what happened, was something she had proactively suggested to Hawk.
Because Hawk only needed one weakness.
More than one, and it wouldn't be a weakness anymore.
It would be a vulnerability.
The most important point.
Gwen smiled as she looked at Hawk, "If I call you, you'll definitely help, right?"
Hawk smiled in response.
"Of course."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Oh, and by the way."
Gwen's smile was radiant. Changing the subject, she looked at Hawk, who had sat over with a smile and embraced her, his claws starting to wander. "What you just said, that if Dad died, you wouldn't marry me—was that true?"
Hawk's body stiffened, meeting Gwen's half-smiling eyes.
"That was a provocation. Couldn't you tell?"
"Really?"
Gwen stared at Hawk, her small hand slowly moving downwards, her smile growing brighter, then she squeezed firmly, "Is this how you provoke?"
Hawk gasped, his lips twitching.
"Be careful. If you break it, I'm certainly not the one who'll feel the pain."
"Then who will?"
"Whoever uses it will feel the pain."
Hawk felt the small hand squeezing tightly, his lips curving upwards as he looked at Gwen.
Gwen looked at Hawk's increasingly upturned lips, and the little Hawk in her palm, which was growing stronger. She took a deep breath and decisively let go.
"Time to sleep. We still have to act tomorrow."
"..."
Yes.
Act.
A play for the Vampires to watch.
After all, Helen 'died'.
Although Helen didn't die, she died again—at least to the Vampires, Helen was dead. George wanted to catch these Vampires hiding in the dark, and before he could flip the table like Hawk, he could only cooperate and act in this play.
But George and Gwen knew it was an act.
However, Howard and Simon didn't know.
So... the two little ones were truly crying.
The kind that was heartbreaking and inconsolable.
Standing in the morgue, Hawk watched Howard and Simon, who were being pulled by George and Gwen, preventing them from seeing their mother's body, crying even more heartbreakingly. He lowered his gaze slightly, trying hard not to laugh out loud.
Especially at the funeral a week later.
Hawk even bought himself a pair of sunglasses. After putting them on, he covered his eyes, sinking his thoughts into his Little Universe, thereby maintaining an emotionless expression, looking blankly at the new tombstone before him.
The name on the tombstone was very clear.
Helen Stacy.
The grave pit dug behind the tombstone, symbolizing Helen Stacy's coffin, was slowly being lowered.
George held the crying Howard again, his expression sorrowful.
Gwen also pulled Simon, who was trying to run towards the coffin, her expression equally sorrowful.
As a professional detective, George's acting skills were always on point because he had to scare suspects, leaving no room for fault.
Gwen was very beautiful.
Zhang Wuji's mother once said that the prettier a woman is, the more she lies.
So... Gwen's acting was also impeccable.
Howard and Simon, however, were completely kept in the dark, their emotions genuine. These past few days, the two little ones had almost cried their voices hoarse.
So, Hawk didn't know if George could lure out the Vampires behind the scenes by acting out this play.
But Hawk was very certain of one thing.
After the matter was over, George and Gwen would suffer.
But Gwen had a bit more leeway.
Because she could wait until the matter was over, not go to the apartment, but instead stay obediently at 521A Palm Street until the fuss died down before returning to her parents' home.
But George couldn't. After this matter, he would probably be sleeping on the sofa for at least one to three months.
Hawk watched the dirt being pushed into the grave pit, and looked at the father and daughter performing their acting there. He felt a bit of schadenfreude as he looked at George, who was also wearing sunglasses but couldn't hide his sadness, a ring on his finger.
The ring on George's finger was not the Sunstone Ring he had previously asked Katherine to send.
But it was a Sunstone Ring.
This appeared at George's bedside when they returned to the ward from the morgue that day, along with a mobile phone and a note.
The note described the effects of the Sunstone Ring and the function of the mobile phone.
But it hadn't rung these past few days.
Until now.
The moment 'Helen's' coffin was buried, George felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, a flash of anger crossing his face. He then handed Howard to Gwen and walked aside to answer the call.
Katherine, who was also attending the funeral as a guest, walked over to Hawk's side.
"Sir, do you need me to catch that Vampire?"
"No need."
Hawk shook his head, "They like to act, let them act. We just watch."
Katherine nodded, saying nothing more.
Hawk's eyes, through his sunglasses, looked beyond the cemetery to the black-clad man standing on a rooftop that overlooked everything in the cemetery, also holding a mobile phone.
His six senses were released, and he clearly heard the black-clad man's phone call and George's voice coming from the other end of the line.
"Sheriff Stacy, please accept my condolences."
"Murderer!"
"Soon, Sheriff Stacy, the murderer will come to you to surrender. Oh, and Sheriff Stacy, as one of us, have you felt that extraordinary power?"
"..."
George didn't speak.
But... he did feel it.
Whether it was his strength, his speed, or even his physique, all were soaring at a visible rate.
There was just one downside.
He had to drink blood.
The Vampire on the rooftop smiled somewhat twistedly, "But Sheriff Stacy, you have a very large appetite. Generally, a newborn Vampire only needs one bag of blood a day, but you, in this past week, have bought quite a few blood bags."
In U.S. society, everything can be bought and sold.
Blood can also be bought, at a clear price. As long as you are willing to pay, you can buy a carload of blood and take it back to water flowers.
George was expressionless.
"Isn't this what you wanted to see?"
"Yes, that's right."
The Vampire on the rooftop nodded without denying it, then changed the subject, "But only drinking blood bags isn't good. Those are frozen blood. Sheriff Stacy, you should try fresh blood. Believe me, you'll like it."
As he spoke.
The Vampire took the phone from his ear, composed a text message, and sent it.
George looked at the incoming text message.
He opened it.
He frowned.
"Hudson Meatpacking Plant..."
"Yes."
The Vampire on the rooftop said with a radiant smile, "Sheriff Stacy, at eleven o'clock tonight, go there and tell the doorman you were invited by Cole. I've arranged a gift for you. After you accept it, I think we can meet."
George frowned, "What gift? What do you want to do?"
The Vampire on the rooftop had a mysterious smile, "A meeting gift. You'll like it, I promise, Sheriff Stacy. After all, if you don't like our meeting gift, then our meeting might truly be indefinitely postponed, and your friend Ben probably won't be able to return. Eleven o'clock tonight, Sheriff Stacy!"
With that said.
The Vampire on the rooftop hung up the phone, then turned, leaped, and with a whoosh, disappeared from the rooftop.
George, who was talking on the phone not far away, frowned.
Hudson Meatpacking Plant.
Hawk also raised an eyebrow, looking at Katherine beside him.
Katherine understood.
"This is a Vampire party stronghold in New York, a place where some new generation Vampires gather to enjoy parties and blood."
"Is it also Deacon Frost's, like Blood Apocalypse?"
"Yes."
"..."
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